Rocking device for a time-delay relay



Aug. 31, 1965 A. G. FAFFART ROCKING DEVICE FOR TIME-DELAY RELAY 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1963 A. G- FAFFART ROCKING DEVICE FORTIME-DELAY RELAY Aug. 31 1965 Filed Aug. 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug.31, 1965' A. G. FAFFART ROCKING DEVICE FOR TIME-DELAY RELAY Filed Aug.12; 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1965 A. G- FAFFART 03,271

ROCKING DEVICE FOR TIME-DELAY RELAY Filed Aug. 12, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4United States Patent Office Claims. (c1. 74-519 The present inventionrelates to a rocking device for a time-delay relay, constituted by anactuating device such as an electro-magnct and an electric switch whichalternatively breaks or makes contacts a certain time after theactuating system begins to operate.

The invention is particularly but not exclusively applied to anapparatus provided with a pneumatic time lag of the type described inthe US. patent application 152,224 of November 14, 1961, now Patent No.3,153,- 706 by the same applicant.-

In known devices of this kind, elforts have been made to obtain, withthe same apparatus and without the addition of supplementary parts, twodifferent methods of operation, namely: either the time-lag switch rocksits contacts a certain time a-fiter the excitation of the electromagnetand in consequence the closure of its armature; :or on the other hand,the switch changes over its contacts a certain time atter thede-exci'tat-ion of the electromagnet and therefore of the opening of itsarmature.

Devices have already been proposed in which this resuit is obtained byturning over end-to-end either the time-lag contact unit or theelectromagnet. This conception necessitates a certain dismantling of theapparatus. In addition, it does not lend itself to the arrangement inwhich the two members are mounted one alongside the other on the samebase plate, this latter arrangement being however the most advantageousfor apparatus of small overall dimensions intended electrics-witchboards. The invention enables this construction to be efiected;it has furthermore tor its object to provide a device which does notnecessitate any dismantling in order to change the method of operation,this being obtained by tightening up or slackening a single screw. Thus,without any specialist staff, a retailer can have available a singlestock of relays having two dilferent uses.

The device in accordance with the invention is essentially characterizedby the fact that it comprises, in combination:

An actuating unit and a time-delay unit mounted side by side so thattheir push-rods move in parallel directions;

A rocking device constituted by a rocking lever, the two extremities ofwhich are capable of coming respectively into cont-act with the twopush-rods above-mentioned;

A pivotal shaft for the said rocking lever, of which one of theextremities forming a pivot pin is adapted to be supported in a fixedbearing, while the other extremity is carried by a rotating supportcapable of pivoting about a second shaft parallel to the rocking leverof the rocker device;

Means for fixing together or separating the rocking lever and the saidrotating support at will;

And elastic means tending to apply the rotating supportmocker unitagainst the push-rods.

In accordance with other characteristic features of the invention, thepivotal shaft of the rocker-arm of the rocking device comprises a screwhead and a threaded portion fitted into a corresponding threaded portionof the rotating support, an abutment member being provided on the saidshafit in order to bring the rocker for mounting on 3,203,271 PatentedAug. 31, 1965 arm closer to or to move it away from the rotating supportby tightening-up or slackening-off the screw, and in consequence to fixtogether the two members by means of corresponding recesses andprojections with which they are respectively provided or, on thecontrary, to separate the said members from each other.

The extremity of the pivotal shaft of the rocker-arm,

which forms a pivot pin, is conical and the hearing which,

is adapted to receive it is cut-out in the form of a V.

The part forming the rotating support is a moulded piece in the torm ofa stirrup, the pivot pins of which rest in open hooks.

The elastic means which urges the rotating supportrocking deviceassembly against the push-rods of the actuating and time-delay units isa compression spring.

Other particular features,.advantages and special characteristics of thepresent invention will be brought out from the description thereof whichis given below with reference to the accompanying drawings showingdiagrammatically and simply by way of example one possible form ofembodiment of the said invention.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation with partial cross-section of a deviceaccording to the invention permitting the cycle of operation of a timedelay relay to be reversed;

FIG. 2 is a rear view with partial crosssection of this device, therocking device proper being shown in the position in which it is free topivot on its rotating support;

-FIG. 3 is a transverse section made along the line III-4H of FIG. 2,the rocking device being shown in the position in which it cannot pivoton its rotating support;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section made along the line IVIV of FIG. 2, therocking device being in this case shown in the position in which it isfree to pivot on its rotating support;

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation with partial cross-section, showing therotating support of the device.

In these drawings, the reference 1 indicates the baseplate which servesfor fixing the whole unit, and on which are mounted side by side twounits designated by the general references 2 and 3. One of the units,the unit 2 in the drawings, is an actuating unit such for example as anelectromagnet of any known type which, by the efle'ct of the operationorder which is receives, pushes a push-rod 4 towards the base of thedevice. The other unit 3 is a time-delay device of any particular knowntype, such for example as a pneumatic time-lag which is provided with apush-rod 5 arranged parallel to the rod 4 of the actuating unit, andwhich is capable of returning elastically and slowly to its initialposition after having been moved.

The device proper for the operation of the time-delay relay comprisesessentially:

(a) A rocking device constituted by a rocker-arm 6 which is adapted topivot on a shaft 7, and the two extremi-ties 6 6,; can respectively comeinto contact with the push-rod 4 of the actuating unit 2 and with asmall transfer rod 5,, acting on the push-rod 5 of the timedelay unit 3.

(b) A rotating support designated by the general reference 8 (see moreparticularly lF-IG. 5), in which is mounted the extremity 7 A of theshafit 7 of the rocking device. The support 8 is provide with twoconical studs 9 9 which are pivo-tally mounted in bearings 10 10 of asupporting member .10 which is fixed to the base 1 and which will bedealt with in more detail later. It should be noted that the pivotalaxis XX of the rotating support 8 is parallel to the rocker-arm 6 of therocking device;

(c) Means torsecuring together or for separating the rocking device fromthe rotating support at will, while an elastic means tends .to apply thelatter, together with the rocking device, against the push-nods 4 and 5In the form of embodiment shownby way of example in the drawings, theportion 7,, of the shaft 7 of the rocking device 6 is threaded and canbescrewed into a tapped portion 8,, formed in the support 8, the extremityof the said shaft .7 being provided with a head 7 for that purpose.

The other extremity 7 of the shaft of the rocking device being providedwith an abutment 11, it can be seen that by unscrewing the shaft 7 fromthe support 8, or by screwing it into the latter, the rocker-arm 6 isbrought nearer or on the contrary moved farther away from the saidsupport 8.

On the other hand, one of the two above-mentioned members, for examplethe rocker-arm 6, is provided with two conical studs 12 12 intended tobe engaged in corresponding recesses 13 13 formed in the other member,in this case the pivoting support 8.

From the foregoing description and upon examination of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4,it result that when the portion 7,, of the shaft 7 is unscrewed from itstapped portion 8 as shown in FIG. 3, the rocking device is made rigidwith the pivoting support 8 and the rocker-arm 6 cannot pivot on itssupport 7.

The assembly comprising the support 8 and the rockerarm 6 can only pivotabout the axis XX it being noted that a spring 14, respectivelysupported on the fixed suport and on a shoulder of the pivotal support8, urges the assembly in the direction of the arrow F (FIG. 3) andcauses the extremities 6 and 6 of the rockerarm 6 to be applied againstthe push-rods 4 and 5 On the other hand, if by screwing the portion 7 Aof the shaft 7 into the tapped portion 8 the rocking device is movedfarther away from the pivotal support 8, the rocker-arm 6, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, is then free to pivot about its shaft 7 in the directionsF or F (FIG. 1).

In accordance with an advantageous special feature, the free extremity 7of the shaft 7 is of conical shape and is located opposite a recess 15of V-shape, cut-out in a shoulder 10 of the fixed supporting member 10.By virtue of this particular feature, it can be seen that when therocking device is separated from the pivotal support 8 (FIGS. 2 and 4-),the conical portion 7 comes into contact with the edge of the recess 15which then forms a bearing for the shaft 7. If on the other hand, therocking device is rigidly fixed to its pivotal support 8, the conicalextremity 7 of the shaft 7, being then brought closer to the support 8,has no longer any contact with the recess 15 (FIG. 3) and the assemblycan then turn freely in the direction F The result of the foregoingarrangement is that, without any dismantling but only by screwing downor slackening-off a single screw, it is possible to obtain two methodsof operation of the time-delay switch 3, that is to say, in one case thetime-delay switch changes over its contacts a certain time after theexcitation of the electro-magnet and in consequence after the closure ofits armature, or on the other hand the switch changes over its contactsa certain time after the de-excitation of the electro-magnet and thusafter the opening of its armature. I

The first method of operation is obtained by fixing the rocking device 6to its pivotal support 8. In this case, in the period of rest, that isto say of non-excitation of the electro-magnet of the actuating unit 2,the whole assembly occupies the position shown in FIG. 3, that is tosay, under the action of the spring 14, the extremity 6 of therocker-arm 6 acts through the intermediary of the rod 5 to maintain thepush-rod 5 of the time-delay unit 3 in the pushed-in position, whichmeans that the latter is ready to operate. The push-rod 4 is also in thedepressed position. From the moment when the electro-magnet of theactuating unit 2 is excited by the action of the operating order, thepush-rod 4 comes to bear against the extremity 6 of the rocker-arm 6 andpushes it back, the assembly pivoting in the direction of the arrow Fabout the axis XX This has the effect of freeing the transfer rod 5 andin consequence the time-delay unit 3. The latter than changes over itscon tacts at the end of the period of time for which it has beenpre-set, after the excitation of the electro-magnet.

The second form of operation referred to above is obtained, on thecontrary, by separating the rocking device 6 from its pivotal support 8.In this case, the pushrod 5 of the time-delay unit 2 is held in thedepressed position by the extremity 6 of the rocker-arm 6, the otherextremity 6 of which has previously been pushed back in the direction ofthe arrow F (FIG. 1) by the push-rod 4 of the actuating unit 2, theelectro-magnet of which is then excited.

Under the action of the operation order, when the said electro-magnet isde-excited, the push-rod 4 returns to its depressed position, which hasthe effect of liberating the extremity 6 of the rocker-arm and inconsequence the time-delay unit 3. This latter than changes over itscontacts at the end of the period of time for which it has been pre-set,after the de-excitation of the electro-magnet of the actuating unit, therocker-arm then pivoting in the direction of the arrow F so as to arrivein its final position shown in FIG. 1.

It will of course be understood that the invention has only beendescribed and shown in a purely explanatory manner and without anyimplied limitation, and that modifications of detail may be made theretowithout departing from the scope of the said invention.

Thus, in particular, the member 8 forming the pivotal support ispreferably but not necessarily constituted by a part moulded to theshape of a stirrup, the pivot pins 9 9 of which rest in open hooks 10 10the spring 14 being held in position on the fixed support 10 by amovable arm 16 provided with a boss and two hooked portions whichautomatically hold it in position, by means of which the assembly of theparts can be taken apart and re-assembled without the use of any tool.

In addition, the extremity 7 of the shaft 7 may be cylindrical and maybe applied in a simple round bore. However, the arrangement in the formof a punch in a V-shaped recess is preferable in that when the rockingdevice is separated from its rotating support, that is to say when thereis a reversal of the movements of the two parts, this arrangementpermits a slight additional travel. When the electro-magnet drives itsactuating rod with force, the punch lifts slightly from its V-shapedseating which prevents any harmful stress on the time-delay system.

On the other hand, it is clear that instead of a pneumatic time-delayunit, which has been referred to by way of example, any other delaymeans with mechanical action could also be utilized, such as for examplea clockwork delay device.

I claim:

1. A device for the operation of a time-delay relay having an operatingpush-rod actuated by a driving unit having an actuating push-rod, saiddevice comprising in combination:

An actuating unit and a time-delay unit mounted side by side on a base,the operating push-rods of said actuating unit and said time-delay unitworking in parallel directions;

A rocking device constituted by a rocker-arm pivotally mounted on acentral shaft;

The two extremities of said rocker-arm being adapted to comerespectively into contact with the two abovementioned push-rods;

A pivotal support articulated on an axis parallel to. said rocker-armand on which is fixed the extremity of the pivotal shaft of saidrocker-arm;

A fixed bearing intended to serve as a support for the free extremity ofsaid pivotal shaft of the rockerarrn, said free extremity forming apivot pin;

Means for fixing together or separating at will said rocker-arm and saidpivotal support;

and elastic means adapted to urge said rocker-arm toward said push-rods.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the pivotal shaft of therocker-arm of said rocking device comprises a threaded portion adaptedto engage in a corresponding tapped portion of the pivoted support; anabutment member for retaining said rocker-arm on said pivotal shaft;recesses and corresponding projections are provided respectively on saidrocker-arm and said pivotal support, whereby the rocker-arm is broughtcloser to said pivotal support by screwing or unscrewing the threadedportion of the pivotal shaft of the rocker-arm in the tapped portion ofthe pivotal support, said recesses and projections are operative to fixor release the rocker-arm with respect to said pivotal support.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the extremity of the pivotalshaft of said rocker-arm forming a pivot pin is conical and the fixedbearing which serves as a support for said extremity is cut-out in theshape of a V.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the pivotal support is apiece in the form of a stirrup the pivot pins of which rest on openhooks rigidly fixed on the base which receives the time-delay unit andthe actuating unit.

5. A device for the operation of a time-delay relay having an operatingpush-rod actuated by an electro- 6 magnet with a driving push-rod, saiddevice comprising in combination:

An electro-niagnet and a time-delay relay mounted side by side on abase, the operating push-rods of said electro-magnet and said relaybeing adapted to Work in parallel directions;

A rocking device constituted by a rocker-arm;

The two extremities of said rocker-arm being adapted to comerespectively into contact with the two abovementioned push rods;

A pivoted support articulated on a fixed axis parallel to saidrocker-arm;

A pivotal shaft for said rocker-arm, said shaft comprising a threadedportion engaging in a corresponding tapped portion of the pivotedsupport; an abutment bearing against said rocker-arm;

A fixed bearing in the form of a V intended to serve as a support forthe free extremity of conical form of said pivotal shaft of therocker-arm;

Recesses and projections of complementary shapes provided respectivelyon said rocker-arm and said pivoted support;

Said recesses and projections being adapted to fit one into the otherand to fix together said rocker-arm and said pivoted support, orvice-versa;

and an elastic means adapted to push said rocker-arm towards theoperating push-rods of said time-delay relay and said electro-magnet.

No references cited.

BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR THE OPERATION OF A TIME-DELAY RELAY HAVING AN OPERATINGPUSH-ROD BY DRIVING UNIT HAVING AN ACUTATIN PUSH-ROD, SAID DEVICECOMPRISING IN COMBINATION: AN ACTUATING UNIT AND TIME-DELAY UNIT MOUNTEDSIDE BY SIDE ON A BASE, THE OPERATING PUSH-RODS OF SAID ACTUATINT UNITAND SAID TIME-DELAY UNIT WORKING IN PARALLEL DIRECTONS; A ROCKING DEVICECONSTITUTED BY A ROCKER-ARM PITOVALLY MOUNTED ON A CENTRAL SHAFT; THETWO DEVICE CONSTITUTED BY A ROCKER-ARM PIVOTALLY TO COME RESPECTIVELYINTO CONTACT WITH THE TWO ABOVEMENTIONED PUSH-RODS; A PIVOTAL SUPPORTARTICULATED ON AN DAXIS PARALLED TO SAID ROCKER-ARM AND ON WHICH ISFIXED THE EXTREMITY OF THE PIVOTAL SHAFT OF SAID ROCKER-ARM A FIXEDBEARING INTENDED TO SERT AS A SUPPORT FOR THE FREE EXTREMITY OF SAIDPIVOTAL SHAFT OF THE ROCKERARM, SAID FREE EXTREMITY FORMING A PIVOT ARM;MEANS FOR FIXING TOGETHER OR SEPRATING AT WILL SAID ROCKER-ARM AND SAIDPIVOTAL SUPPORT; AND ELASTIC MEANS ADAPTED TO URGE SAID ROCKER-ARMTOWARD SAID PUSH-RODS.